

The W5500 is a standalone Ethernet controller designed to simplify the process of connecting microcontrollers to the Internet. It features an integrated TCP/IP stack, which supports protocols such as TCP, UDP, ICMP, IPv4, ARP, IGMP, and PPPoE. This makes it an ideal choice for applications requiring reliable and efficient network communication. The W5500 communicates with microcontrollers via an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface), ensuring compatibility with a wide range of systems.








| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Supply Voltage | 3.3V (with 5V-tolerant I/O pins) |
| Operating Current | 132 mA (typical) |
| Communication Interface | SPI (up to 80 MHz) |
| Network Protocols | TCP, UDP, ICMP, IPv4, ARP, IGMP, PPPoE |
| Ethernet Speed | 10/100 Mbps |
| Internal Memory | 32 KB for TX/RX buffers |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C to +85°C |
| Package Type | LQFP-48 or QFN-48 |
The W5500 has 48 pins, but the most commonly used pins for interfacing are listed below:
| Pin Name | Pin Number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| VDD | 1 | 3.3V power supply input |
| GND | 2 | Ground |
| SCLK | 3 | SPI clock input |
| MISO | 4 | SPI master-in/slave-out data line |
| MOSI | 5 | SPI master-out/slave-in data line |
| CS | 6 | SPI chip select (active low) |
| RESET | 7 | Reset input (active low) |
| INT | 8 | Interrupt output (active low) |
| RDY | 9 | Ready signal for SPI communication |
| TX+ | 10 | Ethernet transmit positive |
| TX- | 11 | Ethernet transmit negative |
| RX+ | 12 | Ethernet receive positive |
| RX- | 13 | Ethernet receive negative |
For a complete pinout, refer to the W5500 datasheet.
Below is an example of how to use the W5500 with an Arduino UNO to establish a basic Ethernet connection:
#include <SPI.h>
#include <Ethernet.h>
// MAC address and IP address for the W5500
byte mac[] = { 0xDE, 0xAD, 0xBE, 0xEF, 0xFE, 0xED };
IPAddress ip(192, 168, 1, 100);
// Initialize the Ethernet server on port 80
EthernetServer server(80);
void setup() {
// Start the serial communication for debugging
Serial.begin(9600);
while (!Serial) {
; // Wait for the serial port to connect
}
// Initialize the Ethernet connection
if (Ethernet.begin(mac) == 0) {
Serial.println("Failed to configure Ethernet using DHCP");
// Manually configure the IP address if DHCP fails
Ethernet.begin(mac, ip);
}
// Start the server
server.begin();
Serial.print("Server is at ");
Serial.println(Ethernet.localIP());
}
void loop() {
// Listen for incoming clients
EthernetClient client = server.available();
if (client) {
Serial.println("New client connected");
// Read data from the client and send a response
while (client.connected()) {
if (client.available()) {
char c = client.read();
Serial.write(c); // Echo the received data to the serial monitor
// Send a basic HTTP response
client.println("HTTP/1.1 200 OK");
client.println("Content-Type: text/html");
client.println("Connection: close");
client.println();
client.println("<!DOCTYPE HTML>");
client.println("<html>Hello, W5500!</html>");
break;
}
}
// Close the connection
client.stop();
Serial.println("Client disconnected");
}
}
No Ethernet Connection:
SPI Communication Fails:
Device Not Responding:
Incorrect IP Address:
Q: Can the W5500 be used with 5V microcontrollers?
A: Yes, the W5500 has 5V-tolerant I/O pins, but it operates at 3.3V. Use a level shifter for optimal performance.
Q: What is the maximum SPI clock speed supported by the W5500?
A: The W5500 supports SPI clock speeds up to 80 MHz.
Q: Does the W5500 support IPv6?
A: No, the W5500 only supports IPv4.
Q: How much memory is available for data transmission and reception?
A: The W5500 has 32 KB of internal memory, which is shared between TX and RX buffers.
Q: Can the W5500 handle multiple simultaneous connections?
A: Yes, the W5500 supports up to 8 independent sockets for simultaneous connections.